OUR VIEW: Cheers and Jeers

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MPNnow

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Posted Nov. 8, 2013 at 9:33 PM

Posted Nov. 8, 2013 at 9:33 PM

Canandaigua, N.Y.

A CHEER … to Mike, Melissa and their staff at Master Tech Automotive for their continued support of hospice care in our community. This year’s recent car show resulted in a donation of $1,500 for Hospeace House. It is generous, loyal supporters like Mike and Melissa who help Hospeace House to continue our mission to provide a warm, respectful environment to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of those facing the end of life and their families. All of us at Hospeace House deeply appreciate their kindness and support.

— Submitted by Tony Ruscio, Hospeace House board president

A CHEER ... to everyone who made tracks to help children and adults with special needs at the Al Sigl Community WalkAbout at Eastview Mall on Oct. 27. Over 1,200 people of all ages and abilities gathered to raise over $100,000 for Al Sigl Member Agencies serving tens of thousands in our community. Also part of this year’s event was the WalkAbout Mask Gallery, which included 120 original works of art created by clients of Al Sigl Member Agencies and community volunteers. Heartfelt thanks to each of our sponsors, generous friends, and many wonderful volunteers for celebrating abilities and making WalkAbout a success.

A CHEER … to Donna Bennett and her fellow Zumba instructors, who organized a Halloween Zumbathon at the Sand Bar in Canandaigua on Oct. 25 to $2,500 for Gleaners Community Kitchen. That’s a lot of meals to be served at Gleaners.

— Submitted by Peggy Kane

A CHEER … to Wegmans shoppers who contributed to the “Fill the Bus!” inaugural food drive for Foodlink’s BackPack program.

Nearly 50,000 pounds of food was donated during the community drive. That’s enough food for 12,500 BackPack bags, or 25 percent of the bags distributed annually. About 30 Wegmans staff members volunteered their time at Foodlink by sorting through the donations from the campaign and packed bags for the BackPack program.

The BackPack program fills a critical gap in nutrition by providing healthy and kid-friendly meals for the weekend. Kids don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from and can concentrate on important lessons at school. The program currently helps nearly 1,800 students in over 80 schools.

A CHEER … to Eaves Family Dental Group in Penn Yan, which is teaming up with BonaDent Dental Laboratories in Seneca Falls to pledge a combined $2,000 to help a disabled Vietnam veteran in Penn Yan cover the medical expenses for his service dog.

Tom Devine, the owner of Bear, a German Shepherd, is seeking donations to help pay for the two hip replacements his service dog needs.

The Care for Bear Dinner and Silent Auction will be this Friday, Nov. 8, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Starkey’s Lookout, 5428 Route 14, Dundee. To learn more about Care for Bear, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CareforBear. Donations can be made online atwww.youcaring.com/care-for-bear.

Page 2 of 2 - A JEER … to aggressive drivers on Canandaigua's Main Street. Maybe they’re in a hurry; maybe they got stuck at all the lights downtown — whatever — but there’s no need to treat this four-lane road like an expressway, especially when school buses are out.

As an added reminder, City Police do lots of radar on Main Street, and if you drive like that every day on your way to work you’re bound to get a ticket.

A CHEER … to the concept that every vote counts.

An example from Tuesday: A proposition that would have extended the Palmyra town supervisor term from two to four years was defeated by just one vote. Sure, the tally is unofficial until the absentees are counted, but that vote — and many other close contests around the area — once again drive home the idea that you need to get out on Election Day.